English Learners

• We BELIEVE that every student has the capacity to achieve academic success and make a positive contribution to society.

• We VALUE the diversity of our community and recognize the importance of celebrating this diversity within the learning environment.

• We RECOGNIZE that systemic barriers exist and are key contributing factors in the pervasive, disparate student achievement outcome within our school system.

Our diverse population of learners will have equal access to rigorous academic content while acquiring language proficiency through sheltered instruction so that they are ready for lifelong success after graduation. As a community we will create awareness that it takes from 5-10 years to achieve academic language proficiency and we assume simultaneous development of language and content-area knowledge. 

ELD support is provided in all Northshore Elementary Schools. Emerging and Progressing ELD students are in general education classrooms and will receive additional assistance from a certificated ELD teacher or an ELD paraprofessional based on their student data. Classroom teachers will provide support to Proficient ELD students within core content by using language development strategies to support listening, speaking, reading and writing. ELD staff provide supplemental academic vocabulary instruction through push-in or pull-out, small, flexible groups. In addition, Newcomers (0-2 years in the U.S.) receive instruction to build essential English language communication skills.

ELD staff collaborate with classroom teachers to monitor students who have exited from ELD services. Students are monitored for 2 years to ensure they continue to make academic progress in school. Assistance is provided as needed for proficient ELD students.

ELD support is provided at all middle schools. Emerging and Progressing ELD students follow the general education plan and also receive one ELD class period a day from a certificated ELD teacher. Progressing ELD students with academic needs can also enroll in this ELD class period. The ELD class is designed to provide intensive English language development to develop all skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing and comprehension.

ELD Paraprofessional staff provides supplemental academic vocabulary instruction through push-in or pull-out, small, flexible groups. Students receive assistance within their general classrooms. Students who have exited ELD services in the past 2 years are also provided support if there are academic needs.

Emerging and Progressing ELD students follow the general education plan and also receive up to two EL class periods a day from a certificated ELD teacher including:

• Daily ELD English: Beginning and Intermediate students receive English credit while developing English proficiency skills (and/or)
• Academic English Language: Beginning, Intermediate (and Advanced, depending on needs) ELD students receive academic content support focusing on the academic language necessary in core content classes. 

Additionally, ELD Paraprofessional staff provide supplemental academic vocabulary instruction through push-in or pull-out, small, flexible groups. Students receive assistance within their general classrooms. Students who have exited ELD services in the past 2 years are also provided support if there are academic needs.